Fractional combustion apparatus



May 5, 1931. P. J. A. MAIGNEN FRACTIONAL COMBUSTION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' y 1 P. J. A. MAIGNEN 1,804,174

FRACTIONAL COMBUSTION APPQRATUS Filed Dec. 30-, 1925 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 PROSPERJIAIVAUUJ7E/%IGIVEM Patented May 5, 1931 PROSIPEB JEAN AUGUSTE MAIG-NEN, 6F PHILADELPEIA,EENNSYLVANLA I FRAGTIONAL COMBUSTION AEPARATUS Application filed December 30, 1925 Serial lilo. 78,292.

My invention is particularly adapted'for the combustion of fuels containing a large percentage of moisture, for instance, peat, lignite, wood, weeds, garbage and other vegetable refuse. However, it may also be advantageously employed for the economical combustion of non-caking coals and for fuel briquets made of peat mixed with combustible oil, mixtures of bituminous coal and peat; bituminous coal, peat and oil; or any other kind of fuel containing volatile combustible matter.

Briquets of the character above contemplated are the subject matter of my Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,503,907,

granted August 5th, 1924, and this application includes matter disclosed in that Letters Patent, and also matter disclosed in my application Serial No. 44,430 filed July 18, 1925, and U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,592,281 granted to me Jul 13, 1926.

As hereinafter cliascribed, apparatus of the character herein contemplated, is adapted to subject fuel to several distinct steps in the process of combustion of the same. For instance, first, a dessicating operation in which moisture is evaporated from the fuel. Second, a distilling operation in which volatile combustible matter is liberated from the fuel and consumed as gas, as soon as'evolved.

Third, the operation of burning the fixed carbonor carbonized matter of the fuel, in the form of incandescent coke.

In the above contemplated step by step process of combustion, the different elements of the fuel do not interfere with one another during combustion, as is the case in ordinary furnaces. Consequently, such step by step combustion renders available the entire energy of each element of the fuel, as here inafter described. However, it is to be par ticularly noted that one ofthe most valuable features of my invention is that there is no loss of sensible heat at any stage of the combustion of the fuel.

In its simplest form, my invention includes a container, with such openings as may be necessary for the introduction of fuel, for the escape of the non-combustible and combustible volatile matter, and for the expuls lVhen the temperature of before any of the combustible gases are liberated. The watery vapor thus generated may be allowed to escape directly into the furnace. When all the watery vapor aforesaid has escaped; continued heating of the fuel liberates hydrogen or light hydro-carbon gases. lVhen all the volatile matter is expelled from the fuel, the carbonized residue of the fuel remaining in the container may be pushed out of the latter 1nto the furnace, to be there consumed.

M' aresent invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig. I is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view of a steam generating boiler and furnace embodying a simple form ofmy invention.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic vertical section view of a locomotive boiler and furnace embodying a modification of my invention.

Fig. III is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified form of my invention shown in Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary sectional view of the structure shown in Figs. I and III but with the retort shown in elevation and in a different position.

Fig. V is a partial front elevation of the structure, shown in Fig. III on a larger scale.

Fig. V1 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line V1, V1 in Fig. Ill.

Fig. VII is a cross sectional view of a modified form of the retort shown in Fig. ll.

Fig. VIII is a front elevation of the air valve plate indicated in Figs. I and II.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Fig. I; the furnace casing 1 supports the boiler 2 above the base fire grate 3, and the form of my invention applied thereto includes the fuel container 4 which is conveniently mounted upon rollers 5 so that it may be thrust through the opening 6 in the furnace wall, to the operative position shown, or be withdrawn. Such construction and arrangement permit adjustment of the heating effect upon the container, and, consequently, the amount of fuel supplied to the furnace. Moreover, to prevent destruction of the container by excessive heat from the base fire, I provide said container 4 with the jacket 7, having the valve 9 controlling the admission of air between said jacket and container; thus heating the air and cooling the container to any desired degree.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Fig. II; the locomotive boiler 10 is provided with the base fire grate 11, and the embodiment of my invention applied thereto is of the type including a fuel container -l and appurtenances, such as shown and described with reference to Fig. I; and including fuel feeder piston valve 12 controlling the fuel inlet 14.

Referring to Fig. III it is to be unoerstood tl at movement of said fuel feeder piston valve 12 outward will pe unit the fuel to drop into the container 1 and that movement of said fuel feeder piston valve inward will proj ect the fuel toward the door 15 and ultimately project the contents of said container at through the end of the container normally closed by said door 15.

The gases above mentioned as being evolved in the container 1, pass out through the orifices 16 where they are met by the air passing out of the acket 7 through the orifices 17 and the volume of air thus supplied may be controlled by the valve 19 (which is conveniently formed and arranged as shown in Fig. V) consisting of a plate having slots 18 adapted to cooperate with slots 20 in the end of said jacket 7. Said valve 9, shown in Fig. VIII, is provided with similar slots 28.

IVhen the container is withdrawn as shown ing Fig. IV; the orifices 16 are closed by the plates 21 attached to the furnace front by the brackets 22.

In Fig. VII said gases pass out o the container 4- through the orifice 23 and miX with the air in the jacket 27, the mixture passing out through the orifices 24 in said jacket.

I also find it convenient to provide a plow or rake 25 attached to the lower portionof the jacket 7 so that the fuel bed may be leveled. off by the backward or forward movement of the container 4 to thus distribute the fuel deposit-ed from said container 1 upon said base Q1. [LLB- "W I I I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In fractional combustion apparatus; the

combination with a furnace casing provided with a chimney vent; of a support for a base fire in said casing; a hollow fuel container, including a jacket, movable in and out of said casing to a variable extent, a valve controlling the admission of air between said jacket and container; closure means, carried by said container, normally secluding fuel in said container and movable to permit discharge of the fuel from said container; fuel feed-er piston valve means for the introduction of raw fuel to said container, and for the discharge of carbonized matter from said container; and means for the escape of volatile matter from said container.

2. In fractional combustion apparatus; a hollow fuel container provided with supporting rollers; a jazket for said container; a valve controlling the admission of air between said jacket and container; closure means, carried by said container, normally seeluding fuel in said container, and movable to permit the discharge of fuel from said container; hopper means for the introduction of raw fuel to said container; fuel feeder piston means for the discharge of carbonized matter from said container and for controlling the introduction of raw fuel to said container, and conduit means for the escape of volatile matter from said container.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 28th day of December, 1925.

PROSPER JEAN AUGUSTE MAIGNEN. 

